Joseph “Joe” Kennedy: 1888—1969. Patriarch and father of John, Robert and Edward, among others. Was a leading Democrat, London Ambassador and Chairman of the US Treasury. He and wife Rose Kennedy had nine children. Joe Kennedy was determined to make presidents of his sons and had great influence over their presidential and senate campaigns.
Among the sons were:
John F Kennedy: President 1961-1963. Led the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, came close to nuclear war with the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and promised that man would set foot on the moon. Shot dead in Dallas.
Robert F “Bobby” Kennedy: Senator and Attorney General. Was running for president when he was assassinated in 1968.
Edward “Ted” Kennedy: Senator since 1962. Liberal heavyweight who, after the death of his father and brothers, became the patriarch of the clan until his death in 2009.
Among the more famous living family members are:
Caroline Kennedy: Born 1957, only living child of John F Kennedy. Author and lawyer. Member of the group that nominated Joe Biden as Barack Obama’s vice-presidential candidate. Was US Ambassador to Japan 2013–2017.
John Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Born 1954, son of Robert. Environmental lawyer, professor and author. Challenging Joe Biden to become the Democratic candidate in the 2024 US presidential election.
Joseph “Joe” Kennedy III: Born 1980, grandson of Robert. Former Attorney General, Member for Massachusetts in the House of Representatives 2013–2021. Seen as a rising star within the Democrats.
Christopher “Chris” Kennedy. Born 1963, son of Robert. Businessman who campaigned to become governor of the state of Illinois in the 2018 election.